Yes, Mariner fans I know, Bill Bavasi is an idiot. For trading Rafeal Soriano for Horacio Ramirez...a.k.a. HoRam... he should have been immediatly run out of town. With this latest trade, which appears imminent, we are going to say goodbye to one of the best prospects we have had for some time and the setup man who was so valuble to our bullpen last year. And I actually think its alright.
Here's what we lose... the Crown Jewel in the lineup, Adam Jones. Jones has had two stints in the majors and has stumbled both times he made it up. In the Minor Leagues, Jones is a Monster, his power numbers are staggering and his defense is impeccable. I have no doubt in my mind Jones could be a Gold-Glover in the majors for 8 or 10 years but his confidence has already been shaken in the Majors. As far as playing in the League, Jones is unproven.
Next, George Sherrill. Sherill was an intragal part of the Mariners Pen in 2007. He was the Setup man we needed to get the game to J.J. Putz. However. it took this guy a long time to get to where he is, Sherrill will turn 31 shortly after the season begins. He certainly has a few good years left in the tank and deserves to become a closer in the MLB but was never going to get that chance in Seattle. Plus the Mariners have a secret weapon, Brandon Morrow. To be able to pull off this trade without including Morrow is a huge victory for the M's. Yes, Morrow is a starter by nature and will be a Starter in the MLB, but with a rotation including... Bedard, Felix, Batista, Silva, and Washburn... and unfortunatly HoRam if necessary...in all of Bill Bavasi's brilliance... there is no room until Batista or Washburn blows it. (Side note: After Wash's second half last year it wouldn't shock me at all if this is the last year you see Wash in a Mariner Uni.) Brandon Morrow after a year of experience could be just as, if not, more solid of a setup man then Sherrill.
So we end up with Erik Bedard... Potential All-star and the top-of-the-rotation pitcher that was necessary to relieve Felix Hernandez of the immense pressure he had placed on him. When the proven commodity of what we are giving up is a Setup man... and we are recieving a Stud Left-Handed Starter, it can't be a bad deal for us. I will miss Adam Jones and if he becomes and elite outfielder in Baltimore, I will be sad... no, I'll be downright furious, but the truth of the matter is Adam Jones may have never done it in Seattle. He had all the time in the world and never proved himself at the major league level. The last thing for Jones to try is a change of scenery. So I welcome this trade, and hope that it makes the Seattle the legitimate contenders I know they can be.
I don't like that we are giving up so much including 20 yr. old prospect Chris Tillman and maybe a forth player... but I feel this will be worth it for us right now. It could definatly sting should Jones hit it big but Bedard is what we need. In a long line of bad Bavasi trades this one doesn't make me want to drop him in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Bill you still Suck. You should have been fired 2 years ago yet here we are still struggling by with you. Please do not trade any more of our Farm unless we can win the Series this year. Our future will be crippled if we deal any more. However this year, Seattle does have a chance, and I am excited to see how the Mariners stack up in the American League.

Taylor Walker
Anne V
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